It is the second on the left, from the top. I'm sure if you guys have taken the bellhousing off, you know what one I'm talking about. I put thread locker on it this last time (thought I was done pulling the transmission) and now I'm having a very hard time getting it out. It's usually pretty hard (and time consuming) to get out, but I'm at a loss. I'm using a open/box end wrench and a screw driver, getting very minimal turns each time. How are you guys doing it? I would greatly appreciate to know the trick or secret.

 

really long snap-on extension goes 3/8 to 1/2 and is like 36" so you can sit on the back of the tranny and torque the hell out of it

 

I usually leave the side/bottom bolts on and get to the top ones first by removing the tranny crossmember and lowering the tranny an inch or 2 with a jack. With a foot or 2 of extensions you should have enough room and leverage to get the bolt out.

 

Threadlocker was probably a mistake. I've got 150K on my T56; have removed the tranny/bell housing multiple times for clutch upgrades and never had a bolt back out that was torqued down properly.

 

I think I may have confused some of you. I've pulled trannies in and out numerous times and I have the extension and the swivels. This bolt is one that holds the bellhousing to the block. I removed the transmission and then the bellhousing is left. I have all of the bolts out except that one. I tried jacking on the front of the motor, to get it to tip a bit, but it didn't work.

I like using the thread locker, I just won't use it on that bolt again. Anyone have any suggestions now that they may know what bolt I'm talking about? There isn't enough room to get a socket or a wrench on it. Like I said, I've been using an open/closed box end wrench, perpendicular to the bolt, and using a screw driver to twist the other end of the wrench. That's the only way I can figure out how to get it out.

I have it about half way out, but I got tired of messing with it. Any help is appreciated.

 

I used the end of my jack handle and "pried" the body panel away from the bolt in that area to give me more clearance...no one will ever see that anyways!

Cody

 

Know exactly what you are talking about. I was able to get my 14mm wrench on it. Once it broke loose I could spin it off with my fingers. Just about as much fun putting it back on. Good luck to you.

 

Jack up under the balancer just a hair.

 

I haven't been lucky enough to get it to spin off with my fingers, but I've never had this much trouble, and it's because of the thread locker. I tried jacking up on the balancer, but it didn't do any good. If you look at the picture, even if it comes forward some, you still can't get anything on it. I'm going to have to try and pry the panel away with a jack handle. I'll try that tomorrow.

I've circled the bolt for you guys that don't see it.


Thanks for the help guys.

 

heat will let any thread locker loose if you are brave enough to do it under the car

 

I don't have any means of heating the bolt up, or I'd do it for sure. I talked with another buddy of mine and he said to pry on the panel also.

Capn Pete (the smilies king ), I don't have a shallow enough socket to even get it up in there. Maybe my motor sits just a tad farther back? I know that in the current position it is in now (half way out), w/out prying on the panel, I couldn't get any socket on it. It's too close to the back side of the panel. I don't even know how you got a socket on there in the first place and was getting 90* turns. I would have taken that and ran with it, compared to what I have now. I can get a 90* every so often, but most are like 45*, as long as the fu(king wrench doesn't pop off! I'll try again today after I get home from work. I appreciate it guys.

 

haha No offense but why would you put threadlocker on it if you don't have anything to heat it up with? Go buy a propane torch and stick her on there for about 10 seconds then try and turn it.

 

Maybe the LS1 sits a little further forward?? (it could only be a little bit, because from the tranny back are the same, but the bellhousing may be longer? ). In any case, I'd be looking at the BFH (big...hammer) mod to get a short socket onto the bolt. I think in the end that would be a lot easier than trying to do the whole thing with a wrench?! UNLESS you get one of those Craftsmen (we've got Motomaster here in Canada) or some other brand of ratchet wrench that have the VERY FINE ratchet "clicks". My Dad's got a set and they work incredibly in some tight spaces where there's hardly room to get any swing with a normal wrench or ratchet.

But for that bolt, I still think you should hammer/bend/pry the floor away from the bolt just enough to get a socket on there, and it'll make RE-INSTALLING it a lot easier (since it's pretty much too late to help you take it out??).

 

get out a hammer and dent the tunnel it won't take much to get the clearance you need.

 

I have some of these ratchet wrenches, but the box end is too thick around the outside to get it in between the bolt head and the bellhousing.

This isn't a bad idea either. I'm not too concerned about areas that other people can't see (ex. hole cut for shifter and master cylinder during A4 to M6 swap).

I didn't have intentions of taking it back out anytime soon and I didn't want any bolts to back while I was thrashing on it (like I'd hope to do after the install). It really wasn't that big of a deal getting all of the bolts out except for this one.

Thanks guys. I'll see what I can do when I get home.